Tag: stylecraft yarn

In my haste to release the fourth gorgeous tea cosy of the Grandma Collection…The Grandma Florence tea cosy; I realised that I hadn’t posted the formal introduction. So here it is…

Dedicated to my lovely Momma…Florence.

My Mom: the woman who raised me and who has quietly influenced me throughout my life.

I followed in her duty shoes and trained as a nurse, inspired by memories of her putting on her nurses hat and cape…of course that style of uniform has long since gone…but I wanted to help people just like her.

My Mom has been such a creative influence in my life too, for as long as I can remember she has made stuff. Clothes, flower arrangements, knitting, patchwork quilts…no wonder I have the desire to create and craft.

My Momma has also taught me how to be a Momma to my boys…and if I do half as good as her then I’ll do alright by them! But most of all she is always there and she is kind and that is just what I want to be.

So this is the Grandma Florence tea cosy, a pretty cosy woven with bright ribbons to represent the encouragement, love and inspiration that my Momma has woven throughout my life… Thanks Mom!

xxxxx

So that is the Grandma Florence tea cosy in all of her glory, here is the pattern linky thing which is free and has a photo tutorial also.

This is the fourth tea cosy in the Grandma collection, and is sure to charm. The crochet mesh design means this pattern makes for a very quick hook up. Ideal for beginners using just a half treble crochet stitch, this cosy is abidingly delightful and will trim any tea pot with joy.

Dedicated to the inspiration that is ‘Nanna Florence’ otherwise known as my Mom!

The pattern makes a tea cosy that fits a standard 6 cup teapot.

I used less than 50g of Stylecraftspecial dk yarn in cream. Please note that I have used a different colour yarn in the beginning of the photo tutorial below.

You will also need a darning needle, a selection of 5mm wide ribbon, a 50cm length of fluff, a button, a pair of scissors and x4 stitch markers (or small safety pins or scraps of different colour yarn). The use of a hot glue gun is optional, ribbons can either be glued into position or stitched.

Stitches used in this pattern refer to English terminology, however a conversion to US terminology is provided in brackets.

Ch – chain stitch

slst – slip stitch

dc – double crochet (single crochet)

htr– half treble crochet (half double crochet)

You will also need:

a 4mm crochet hook

Ok, here we go…

Using the cream yarn Ch 4

Join with a slst to form a ring.

Row 1: Ch1 (does not count as a st), 6hdc into ring,

finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (6hdc).

Row 2: Ch1, (does not count as a st) 2hdc in same space, 2hdc in each st around, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (12hdc).

Row 3: Ch1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next st, *2hdc in next st, 1hdc in next st* . Repeat * – * to end, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (18hdc).

Rows 4: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next 2 sts, *2hdc in next st, 1hdc in next 2 sts*. Repeat *-* to end, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (24hdc).

Row 5: Ch1 (does not count as st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next 3 sts, *2hdc in next st, 1hdc in next 3 sts*. Repeat *-* to end, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (30hdc).

Row 6: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next 4 sts, *2hdcin next st, 1hdc in next 4 sts*. Repeat *-* to end, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (36hdc).

Row 7: ch1 ( does not count as a st), 1hdc in same space and in each st around, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (36hdc).

Row 8: ch1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space andin each st around, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (72hdc).

Row 9 and 10: Repeat row 7, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (72hdc).

You should have something that is starting to look a bit like a flying saucer! This is a good point to check your measurements with your intended teapot. Place your hooked disc on top of your teapot. You want the edges of the circle to be approx. 1cm from the handle of the teapot.

To mark out handle and spout holes, simply take x4 st markers (or cut short pieces of yarn in a different colour as I did) and place/ tie first marker in the st behind where you joined last row.

Counting backwards (or to the right)miss x3 sts and place/tie second marker in next st. This marks out your handle.

From this second marker count backwards (or to the right) 30sts and place 3rd marker in the next st (31st st). Return to the first marker and count forwards 30 sts (or to the left) and place 4th marker in the next st.

You have now marked out the handle and spout positions for your cosy. Marker #1 and #2 indicate the handle space and markers #3 and #4 indicate the spout space.

The next stage of the cosy is to construct the sides. So, for the purposes of the pattern these will be referred to as side A (between marker #1 and #4) and side B between marker #2 and #3).

Side A row 1: In Cream yarn Ch 4 (counts as 1htr and 2ch), miss 2sts *htr in next st, ch2, miss 2sts*

repeat * -* until you reach marker/ tie #4.

NB/ last htr is completed in st marked by marker / tie #4

(x11htr, x10 ch2spaces)

Side A row 2: ch4 (counts as htr and 2 ch) turn work.

Miss 2 sts, *htr in next st, ch2, miss 2 sts*

repeat * – * to end of row, placing last htr in top of ch2.

(x11htr, x10 ch2 spaces).

Side A row 3: We are going to increase the mesh at each end of the row.

repeat * – * til end of row. (x13htr, x12 ch2 spaces).

Side A row 5 – 15: repeat side A row 4. Fasten off. Side A completed.

Side B: Join cream yarn in st to the left of st marker #2

repeat Side A instructions between markers 2 and 3. Fasten off and sew in all loose ends.

Remove stitch markers.

Place on your teapot to check the fit.

Now for the fun part! Weave the ribbons in and out of the mesh.

weave the ribbons in and out of the mesh…

alternate each row ie, start weaving from under the post on one row and over the post on the next row. NB/ on row 3 you will not need to alternate in order to keep the pattern of covered and exposed posts.

This gives me another idea!!!

Repeat weaving ribbons for both Side A and Side B. Once completed you need to secure the ribbons. I used a hot glue gun to do this but you could just as easily machine sew.

Turn work so that the wrong side is facing upwards and begin by securing the ribbons that end by going behind the post. In the picture below this would be the green ribbon, followed by the blue then the red ribbon. Secure both sides being careful not to pull the ends of the ribbon to tight, you need to allow a little give in the ribbon.

Continue to secure the ribbons in this way. You should now only have ribbons that go over the post left to secure. To do this split the side of the post stitch with your nail and thread through the ribbon. In the photo below the top picture shows the blue ribbon already threaded and the bottom picture shows the red ribbon yet to be threaded with the place for it to be threaded through indicated by the safety pin.

NB/ this can be a bit tricky and may require a wee bit of patience!

Once threaded, secure as before.

Edging: join cream yarn to the bottom corner (any side).

Ch2 (does not count as a st), htr into same space (to the right side of ribbon), ch1.

NB/The next st is to be placed in between ribbon).

*ch1,htr in between ribbon*

repeat *- * until last ribbon at the top. Don’t worry too much about the ribbon seeming loose at the sides, just keep placing those htr’s between the ribbons! The last htr being placed to the left side of the last ribbon.

Dc in the sts across the lid of the cosy.

Now place htr to right of top ribbon on opposite side,*ch1, htr in between ribbon*.

Repeat * – * to end. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Repeat the whole of the edging process on the other side of the cosy, but do not fasten off as this is where the tab is created..

Tab Row 2: ch2 (does not count as a st) turn work, htr in each st along (8htr)

Tab Row 3: repeat Tab Row 2.

Attach button centrally on opposite side to tab.

Now to sew handle opening. To do this sew the two edges on opposite side of cosy to tab and button. Sew from bottom up to the 4th or 5th ribbon or until the bottom of your handle.

Finally to neaten the edges around the spout, join cream yarn to st just above the tab.

Ch2, htr in each st around until st just above button, fasten off and weave in ends.

Repeat the process to neaten the edges around the handle, this time joining the cream yarn to any st in the opening for the handle, ch2, htr in each st around, joining with a slst in top of ch2 to finish. Fasten off.

Finally to add the pompom.

Now you could just make a pompom, but I just tied the first part of a bow over and over until I had a fluffy ball.

I threaded some yarn through it and secured it to the top of the tea cosy where it looked rather quite proud.

Et voila! A beautiful tea cosy to warm your brew!

xxxxx

I REALLY HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED MAKING THIS PATTERN AS MUCH AS I HAVE ENJOYED CREATING IT FOR YOU. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT SOMETHING OR NOTICE ANY ERRORS PLEASE SHOUT UP. EQUALLY PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR Grandma Florence Tea cosy CREATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW or on social media using the hashtags #ayarnyrobin or @yarnyrobin…I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM!

I just wanted to bob in and out quickly to let you know I did it…I got the hat done and this time it fits!

What do you think?

loom knitted beanie…

I am really pleased with it!

I used Stylecraft Special Chunky in Midnight and King Cole Tonal Chunky in Misty Teal this time and this seems to have made all the difference in terms of size and stretch. It still needs to stretch a bit…it is an only just fit, but I am hoping it will stretch a little more as it gets worn. The hats I have made previously have always stretched a bit when worn.

If you are interested in the pattern details the links to such can be found in this post. I modified the brim slightly by adding a row of double crochet to the bottom of the brim once I had taken it off the loom. I found the edge curled outwards otherwise and didn’t lie flat. I think this may have something to do with my cast on technique and being a novice loom knitter!

So there it is… just in time for Christmas!

I would recommend this pattern if you are still outstanding a hand made gift for Christmas…4 hours and I had this knocked out, so there is still time!

Talking of which if you do celebrate this festive season then I wish you a peaceful and very happy Christmas. If you are not celebrating then I wish you a happy and crafty weekend. I will try and pop by before the new year, I’m sure I will feel the need to escape the madness at some point.

Below is the very quick and simple pattern for my

‘Dotty Little Flower’

which featured in my latest tea cosy design.

I have had some lovely comments and thought putting the pattern for the flower on a separate post might be useful….even though it is so simple, you could hardly call it a pattern!

Maybe inspiration may be a better phrase.

Any how this is what I did.

To make a dotty little flower, ch4, slst to 1st chain to make a ring.

Ch 2 (counts as a hdc) x9 hdc into ring, slst into top of starting ch and fasten off to finish.
To create a real field of flowers cross stitch some centres, add beads to others and save some for a french knot centre. When using beads, just make sure they have large enough centres for the yarn to pass through!

I used a cheat method to create the french knot centre by pulling a piece of yarn from the back of the flower to the front and then tying a knot x10 in the yarn in exactly the same place to make a large knot.

To finish thread the other tail of the yarn from the front to the back, so both tails are now at the back of the flower, tie to secure and trim tails short.

et voila!

A dotty little flower ready to be sewn or glued or attached to whatever your heart desires.

This is the third tea cosy in theGrandma collection,designed with simplicity and sweetness. The top down design means this pattern makes for a quick hook up. Ideal for beginners and sure to guarantee a perfectly sweet cosy for your teapot.Dedicated to the inspiration that was‘Nanna Dot’

The pattern makes a tea cosy that fits a standard 4 cup teapot.

I used less than 50g of Stylecraft special dk yarn in colourways cream and raspberry which I used as my base colours. Please note that I have used a different colour yarn in the photo tutorial below.

I also used scraps of stylecraft special dk yarn in: lipstick, saffron, meadow, fondant, gold, shrimp, lime, khaki and grape.

You will also need a darning needle, a selection of beads with a centre hole wide enough for the dk yarn to be threaded through, a pair of scissors and x4 stitch markers (or small safety pins or scraps of different colour yarn). The use of a hot glue gun is optional, flowers can either be glued into position or stitched.

Stitches used in this pattern refer to English terminology, however a conversion to US terminology is provided in brackets.

Ch – chain stitch

slst – slip stitch

hdc– half double crochet (half single crochet)

You will also need:

a 4mm crochet hook

Ok, here we go…

Using the raspberry yarn Ch 4

Join with a slst to form a ring.

Row 1: Ch1 (does not count as a st), 6hdc into ring,

finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (6hdc).

Row 2: Ch1, (does not count as a st) 2hdc in same space, 2hdc in each st around, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (12hdc).

Row 3: Ch1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next st, *2hdc in next st, 1hdc in next st* . Repeat * – * to end, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (18hdc).

Rows 4: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next 2 sts, *2hdc in next st, 1hdc in next 2 sts*. Repeat *-* to end,finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (24hdc).

Row 5: Ch1 (does not count as st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next 3 sts, *2hdc in next st, 1hdc in next 3 sts*. Repeat *-* to end, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (30hdc).

Row 6: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next 4 sts, *2hdcin next st, 1hdc in next 4 sts*. Repeat *-* to end, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (36hdc).

Row 7: ch1 ( does not count as a st), 1hdc in same space and in each st around, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (36hdc).

Row 8: ch1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space andin each st around, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (72hdc).

Row 9 and 10: Repeat row 7, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (72hdc).

You should have something that is starting to look a bit like a flying saucer! This is a good point to check your measurements with your intended teapot. Place your hooked disc on top of your teapot. You want the edges of the circle to be approx. 1cm from the handle of the teapot.

To mark out handle and spout holes, simply take x4 st markers (or cut short pieces of yarn in a different colour as I did) and place/ tie first marker in the st behind where you joined last row.

Counting backwards (or to the right)miss x3 sts and place/tie second marker in next st. This marks out your handle.

From this second marker count backwards (or to the right) 30sts and place 3rd marker in the next st (31st st). Return to the first marker and count forwards 30 sts (or to the left) and place 4th marker in the next st.

You have now marked out the handle and spout positions for your cosy. Marker 1 and 2 indicate the handle space and markers 3 and 4 indicate the spout space.

The next stage of the cosy is to construct the sides. So, for the purposes of the pattern these will be referred to as side A (between marker 1 and 4) and side B between marker 2 and 3).

Side A row 1: In Cream yarn Ch 1(does not count as a st)* 1hdc in same st and in each st along to marker/tie 4, ch1, turn*

Side A row 2: repeat Side A row 1 returning to marker/tie 1.

Repeat (side A row 1 and side A row 2), to fit the height of your teapot. I completed 15 rows in total. Fasten off.

To complete side B, join cream yarn in stitch to the left of stitch marker number 2

repeat Side A instructions between markers 2 and 3. Fasten off and sew in all loose ends.

Remove stitch markers.

Place on your teapot to check the fit.

Next, using a darning needle sew sides A and B together from the bottom of the cosy to below the spout (approx. 2 rows) and on the handle side from the bottom of the cosy to below the handle.

Now for the creative part… making ‘dotty little crochet flowers’. I made x4 flowers in each of the following colours:

lipstick, fondant, grape, gold, raspberry, saffron and shrimp

A dotty little flower

To make a ‘dotty little flower’ ch4, slst to 1st chain to make a ring. Ch 2 (counts as a hdc) x9 hdc into ring, slst into top of starting ch and fasten off to finish.

To create flower centres you can cross stitch the centre, add beads and create a french knot centre.

I used a cheat method to create the french knot centre by pulling a piece of yarn from the back of the flower to the front and then tying a knot x10 in the yarn in exactly the same place to make a large knot.

To finish thread the other tail of the yarn from the front to the back, so both tails are now at the back of the flower, tie to secure and trim tails short.

Secure your dotty little flowers to both sides of the cosy. You can sew them into place or secure them with hot glue! Then using green yarns sew simple stems and leaves using a back stitch to finish. I used stylecraft special DK yarn in meadow, khaki andlime.

And there you have it…a sweet dotty flower tea cosy to keep your brew warm.

xxxxx

I REALLY HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED MAKING THIS PATTERN AS MUCH AS I HAVE ENJOYED CREATING IT FOR YOU. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT SOMETHING OR NOTICE ANY ERRORS PLEASE SHOUT UP. EQUALLY PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR DOTTY FLOWER CREATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW oron social media using the hashtags #ayarnyrobin or @yarnyrobin…I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM!

Dedicated to my husband’s Nanna Dot who was a truly formidable woman.

Nanna Dot was a tiny woman in stature but a mighty woman non the less.

Strong, brave and wise with the most beautiful smile. No matter what was going on or how much hell was breaking loose round about; Nanna Dot would make a cuppa tea or something a wee bit stronger and in a way that I still do not really understand, she would put things into perspective with a gentle reassurance.

I wish I had known Nanna Dot for longer. I especially loved her love of family and Christmas. Family were so important to her. When my first son was born, we counted from Nanna Dot and Grandad Ernie that our son was number 50….a BIG family indeed!

So this cosy is covered in ‘dotty little flowers’

A meadow of ‘dotty little flowers’ to represent the growth and legacy of her family, which at last count is upwards of 60!

So that is the Grandma Dot tea cosy in all of its glory, here is the pattern linky thing which is free and has a photo tutorial also.

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Mostly enjoying this busy, beautiful life with lots of yarn and a hook! I'm hooked on God, my 3 boys, Mr R and if your reading this then you'll know I'm hooked on crochet too!! So thanks for stopping by...feel free to have a good old poke around...and I hope you enjoy your time spent with me because you are very welcome here xx